I love to write letters to companies. Am I the only one?
Today I wrote a letter to V8 telling the how disappointed I was that their V8 Splash has high fructose corn syrup in it. Way to ruin an otherwise totally healthy drink.
I wrote a letter last month to Cover Girl telling them how much I love the way the new Outlast Lipsticks taste with the strawberry flavor in the lipstick and the gloss (but also how I wish they'd bring back my favorite color, which they recently discontinued). They sent me some coupons for $2 off their lipsticks to help defray the cost of trying new colors.
I wrote a letter to Geico last year to tell them how much I loved their customer service. It's always super fast, you never have to wait on hold, you never get outsourced to India, and they're always super pleasant and well-trained. I told them I would never switch companies, even if someone else was cheaper because good customer service means a lot to me. Six months later they kicked me off their insurance (we think because we had to many glass claims in a 12 month period. We never found out.) I guess they never got my letter?
If I go to Taco Bell or MacDonalds and my food is attrocious or if they completely forgot something, I actually call the number on the bag and complain. Usually they send me a free meal coupon.
But I don't do it for the coupons and freebees. I do it because it is some major part of my personality to want to make the world a better place. And I guess I feel that people, or companies, can't change if they don't know there is a problem. And most people, and companies, really do want things to be better, I think. They want feedback--feedback is how they know how they're doing. I know when I have worked in smaller mom & pop establishments, they've always been grateful to know if people really like their product or if there is an issue that they can fix.
What about you? Do you ever give stores, restaurants, service companies your feedback?
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12 comments:
I do try to complain when necessary and compliment as well. I agree that people want to know. That's weird Geico kicked you off their insurance!
Did cover girl say anything about ever bringing your favorite color back?
No word from Cover Girl yet. :(
if i feel someone is doing an outstanding job (busser at a restaurant, checker at the grocery store, etc.) i usually try and find the manager to inform them of their employees exceptional work. it makes not only me feel good but them also. sometimes ill complain but i end up getting all worked up over it and nothing comes of it.
I always say I'm going to say something and then I never do. I think it's great you actually do something about it when things are not to your liking. I wish I was more like that. I guess I just hate to be confrontational (even in the form of a letter.)
I am with Koreena, I hate to be confrontational even in a letter. I have on occasion said something, but it is rare. It is more likely for me to give a compliment though because I worked retail for a long time and those compliments can really make your day. I wish I was better about complaining when there was something wrong.
You know I'm an avid complainer. I was just sitting down at my computer to write to Target and complain about their plan to replace Cherry Coke in their fountains to Diet Dr. Pepper. Ewww! (Sorry Mindi, it's gross.) Mostly just because where I live the Target is next to the movie theatre and I usually get a large cherry coke to smuggle in. ($1.50 vs. $4.75 at movies).
That is great, I wish I did this more often. I usually don't out of sheer laziness.
That's a bummer about Geico kicking you out. I've been really happy w/their customer service too.
I always seem to get the worst service, even from Geico. No matter how many times I'm the squeaky wheel, I never get greased, just screwed. I've given up on customer service and providing comments.
I do complain when neccesary. I just wrote an email to Gilette (sp?) telling them how bad the Venus Breeze razor is. They sent me 4 boxes of cartridges for free. Which is great, but I still hate the thing and when they are gone I won't ever buy it again. But yes. I believe it letting a company know when they have not done a great job, or vise versa.
People usually don't say anything unless something truly irks them. And, in my experience, even when a customer compliments you to your boss, it rarely gets to you. (I know because I've witnessed compliments and soon as the manager said "Thanks, I'll let them know" it's already forgotten. (Unless your irked said costumer.)
I use to write letters, and still like too. I like to tell managers when thier employee's do thier job. That's why I always do the survey's on receipts.
I have been known to call a few times. I like dealing with customer service though. We have left notes on reciepts at resturants for waiters/waitress telling them that they are doing a good job.
Good or bad, I am also a feedback advocate. I think they should know. Otherwise, how will they improve, or keep doing well?
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